Steve Bruce will be desperate to bring in new players in the upcoming January transfer window, as his lack of options up front has highlighted just how thin his side currently is.

Jonathan Kodjia, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Scott Hogan are all sidelined through injury, leaving teenager Keinan Davis as Bruce's only option in attack. Luckily for the promotion expert, Albert Adomah has been in sensational goalscoring form with five in his last three outings.

Xia stated that the club want to bring in a couple of players on loan, but spoke of much more exciting plans ahead of the summer transfer window if the Midlands giants can get promoted as they currently sit in fourth.

"In terms of strengthening, everyone knows that for January we have the FFP to look at," Xia said. "But very possibly we will bring in a couple of loans to strengthen our squad. We want to keep getting better and better and help us end the season well.

“I hope in the next summer window, if we can go up, there will be a collection of more of my maths equations. Our ambition is that if we go up we won’t be satisfied to just stay there. We want to go back to being one of the elite clubs in the division.

“In order to achieve that, we will have to bring in some high-level players. I know this."

Bruce and Xia combined to make just six summer signings in the previous transfer window, spending less than £3million. Three loans were brought to Villa Park in Sam Johnstone, Josh Onomah and Robert Snodgrass, while John Terry was signed on a free.

Glenn Whelan and Ahmed El Mohamady were the only players to require a transfer fee, with Xia looking to keep expenditure tight after a huge outpour of funds in the previous season.

It saw the likes of Kodjia, Hogan and Ross McCormack join for fees north of £10million. Now, Xia is keeping his wallet in his pocket, until Villa can gain promotion back to the Premier League, it seems.

Will Butcher

Sports journalist who graduated in 2016 from Staffordshire University, and has since worked for Football Insider. Obsessed with anything football related. Still dreaming of a Premier League return for Leeds United.